Wood mulch is probably the worst thing you could put on the garden of anything else. First, it depletes the nitrogen in the soil as it uses vast amounts to break down and compost. Second, it draws criters, mostly the kind you do not want. The best thing to do with wood is to let in fully, repeat fully, compost before using. Also, the wood mulch is probably cover with weed spores and seeds.
Leaf compost is the very best, but let it cook, 140 to 160+ degrees to kill the weed seeds then keep it covered until you use it. I have a piece of ground that is sandy clay, like concrete when dry and a sloppy soup when wet. I put the leave compost right on top about 6-8 inches deep and four feet wide and plant in that. It goes into the ground and now after three years I have good soil 4-6 inch deep and getting deeper. When I get ready to plant I just add more leaf compost on top.
I am not sure how it works, but I have attempted to attach a couple of pictures.
